The trip to Canterbury was not expected to be easy as they had recovered from a patchy start to the season and were playing and winning against some good opposition.

In a game of high drama, the boot of fly half Tom Best with his two second half penalties and a dropped goal proved too much for us on the day. It was a competitive contest and Canterbury tackled and defended well as one unit. Playing down the slope and with the wind we pressured the set scrums but only managed a first half lead of five points. This was to prove crucial.

We scored two well worked tries to lead by twelve points as the half time whistle approached, the scores were both set up by forward power that forced penalties. Driving hard at Canterbury in the right-hand corner a catch and drive sucked in the defenders before an overlap was worked for fly half Bertie Hopkin to score we failed to convert. The second try, after half an hour, was created as we drove the Canterbury set piece into retreat and Number Eight Tom Burns scored off the back, with Bertie Hopkin adding the conversion.

Canterbury after a period of sustained Chinnor pressure took their chance a minute before half time to go into the break at only five points behind. We lost possession at our lineout and they took the ball on and retained possession as it was sent wide for Beaumont to score. Best kicked a solid conversion into the wind. This left us much to do in the second half as the slope and wind were a distinct advantage.

The second half was a hard-fought contest with little give or take on both sides. The decisive period came early in the final quarter as pressure built and Tom Burns was yellow carded for a technical offence. Tom Best kicked the penalty. A minute later the fly half gave his side the lead as he hit a long, low drop goal which crept over the bar by inches. After a long consultation, the referee said yes. Referee Manley was accidentally knocked out but recovered and Chinnor put in a furious late assault which we hoped would prove decisive. In the 78th  minute Tom Best was handed the penalty chance which he duly converted.

Although Chinnor dominated the scrums, Canterbury became adept at depriving Chinnor of possession by stealing their lineouts. This was our first defeat since January 30th and our first defeat of this league season. It hurt and hopefully we have learned a few lessons that we can take back to fortress Chinnor and get back to our winning ways. It was not our day in many ways but Canterbury deserved the win.

Teams

Canterbury
A.Moss, G.Hilton (repl H.Sayers), JJ Murray, W.Farris, M.Beaumont, T.Best, D.Smart, J.Green (repl A.Cooper),C.Townley (repl G.Edwards), S.Kenny, T.Burns, L.Woodbridge, T.Edwards, S.Rogers, H.McCormick-Huston

Interchanges: Best, Meredith, Cooper, Sayers, Edwards

Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Wilson, Bevon Armitage ©, Junior Fatialofa, Danny Barnes, Bertie Hopkin, Frank Jones, Tom Price, Jon Phipps, Jay Tyack, Nathan Hannay, CJ Osazuwa, Ross Parkins, Alex Waddingham, Tom Burns

Interchanges: Andy Berry, Mark Darlington, Jones, Steve Castle. Luke Hibberd

Referee: Alexis Manley
Attendance: 247
Half time score: 7-12
Full time score: 16-12
Star man: Thomas Best (Canterbury)